Staff-controlled baby walker



Feb. 15, 1938. c. B. SANDERS 2,398,566

STAFF CONTROLLED BABY WALKER Filed April 15, 1937 Patented Feb. 15, 1938UNITED STATES ATENT 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a baby walker and-it aims to provide such anarticle as overcomes the direct grasping of the harness or any part ofthe body of the baby by the nurse or other attendant incidental to itsuse, and suoha construction as is controlled by the attendant withoutbending over.

It 'is further aimed to provide a baby walker means of this improvedcharacter with a controlling staff, through the use and movement ofwhich the baby will be balanced in an erect and comfortable positionwith his arms'free for play; to provide such a device with thearea ofsupport between the shoulder blades to prevent the baby pitching overface forward or otherwise falling and so that slight pushing, pulling orturning may at all times serve to correct his posture; and further toprovide such an article as through its use there will be no sidewisepull on the child such as occurs when he clasps the hand of another inlearning to walk; and additionally to provide a construction wherein theattendant may hold and operate the staff'without bending over and thuswith maximum comfort. 3 r

Another object is to provide such a structure with harness which isadjustable to accommodate children of different sizes andto compensatefor growth, and a construction wherein the area of control between theharness and staif is increased through the use of a rigid bracket whichalso functions as the attaching means for the staff.

Variousadditional objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment, by way of example.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of the improved baby walker in perspective;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation, to detail the bracket; I

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail, vertical cross-section showing the connection ofthe shoulder straps and bands;

Figure 5 is a detail front elevation showing the connection of theshoulder straps and bands, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figures 7, 8 and 9, respectively, are fragmentary views in sideelevation, front elevation and longitudinal section through a modifiedform of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, a suitable harness is employed at II].For example, this harness may consist of any desired number of straps orbands II adapted to encircle the upper part of the body of the childbeneath the arms, and the straps or bands may be of leather, textilefabric or other equivalent flexible material. These straps or bandsIIare discontinuous and their free ends are. adapted it tions thereof asshown to provide loops 54 through.

which the strap-s I I pass and whereby the straps I I and I3 are engagedfor relative sliding movement or adjustment. In additiomeachshoulderstrap I3 is preferably in a plurality of sections separably anddetachably connected together as.

by means of conventional buckles at I5, for adjustment to children ofdifferent sizes and to compensate for growth.

A bracket is used at I6 which is of preferably rigid metal or equivalentmaterial, having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion I'Iterminating in a suitable socket. I8 in which a staff I9, of any desiredlength, and preferably of wood, whereby it is relatively rigid or stiff,is secured in any preferred manner. Portion I9 is bifurcated in downwarddirection and terminates in upright arms 20 crossing the straps II whichare secured thereto in any desired manner as by means of rivets 2 I.

Said staff I9 extends upwardly and rearwardly and is of such length asto be grasped at its upper end by an attendant without bending over. Atsuch end, the staif may be equipped with a leather or other flexibleloop 22 through which the hand may be passed as an aid in obtaining asecure hold or grasp on the staff.

It will be realized that the harness may be applied -to-the body of thebaby at the upper part beneath the arms and may be readily adjusted toconform to the body and to compensate for the growth of the baby. Theharness will be comfortable since it is suspended from the shoulders andis flexible and does not interfere with the freedom of movement of hisarms. At the same time, the stalf I9 is held by the nurse or otherattendant without bending over or other discomfort. The staff andbracket provide an extended area or relatively rigid engagement andcontrol of the harnessed baby from the rear and midway between theshoulder blades and hence the child may be supported and held in anerect balanced position or posture, with any deviation therefrom readilycorrected with slight effort through pushing, pulling or turning of thestaff.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention. For instance, I may employ the formillustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 wherein the staff is removable and thebracket is foldable for compactness when carried as in a handbag orotherwise packed or stored. In such form, the bracket is designated Hi,the socket l8 and the staff IS. The staff is removably secured in thesocket as by means of a detachable bolt 23. The upright arms 20' areconnected to the inclined portion H by means of hinges 24 operable onhorizontal axes and which hinges enable the arms 20' to be folded intocontact with said portion l1. Said arms 20', however, in operativeposition are fixed with respect to said portion [1 to which end strongspring latches 25 are fastened at 26 to said portion and they have lugs21 which engage in the upper portions of arms 20' at sockets 28. Thetension of the spring latches 25 is to urge the lugs 21 toward saidarms. The hinges in connection with the latches form snap hinges whichautomatically break joint or hold the parts in rigid relation, throughthe proper pressure thereon,

I claim as my invention:

1. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,and a relatively rigid staff extending from said harness so as to bemanually held and moved by an attendant to control the balance of thechild.

2. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,a bracket attached to the harness of a material more rigid than theharness, and a relatively rigid staff extending from the bracket.

3. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,and a relatively rigid staff connected to the rear of the harnesssubstantially midway of the sides, said staff being engageable andmovable by an attendant to control the balance of the child.

4. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,and a relatively stiff staff connected to the rear of the harnesssubstantially midway of the sides, said staff extending upwardly andrearwardly for engagement and movement by an attendant to control thebalance of the child.

5. A baby Walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,a relatively rigid bracket attached to the rear of the harness and ofless flexibilty than the harness, a relatively rigid staff extendingupwardly and rearwardly from the bracket for engagement and movement byan attendant to control the balance of the child, said bracketincreasing the area of engagement and control of the staff with theharness.

6. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child,said harness consisting of flexible straps to surround the bodyadjustably, shoulder straps crossing the first mentioned straps, saidshoulder straps being adjustable, certain of the straps at the junctionshaving loops through which the other straps are slidably adjustable, abracket having spaced apart arms attached to the first mentioned straps,an upwardly and rearwardly inclined part on the bracket from which thearms depend, a

socket on said part, and an upwardly and rearwardly extending stafisecured in said socket, said staff being engageable and movable by anattendant to control the balance of the child.

'7. A baby Walker according to claim 2 wherein the bracket consists offoldably connected sections.

8. A baby walker according to claim 2 wherein the staff is removable,and said bracket has arms hinged thereto to enable folding thereof, andmeans to hold the arms rigid in operative position.

9. A baby walker according to claim wherein the staff is removable, andsaid bracket has arms hinged thereto to enable folding thereof, andlatch means operative to hold said arms rigid with respect to thebracket in operative position.

CARY BROOIiE SANDERS.

